Wiper blade assembly for the windows of a motor vehicle

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a wiper blade assembly for the windows of a motor vehicle, comprising a longitudinal support ( 10 ) intended to receive a pressure application vertebra ( 20 ) and a wiper blade ( 30 ) and a wiper accessory ( 40 ) carrying a device ( 42   a   , 42   b ) for distributing and projecting a washer liquid wherein the accessory is intended to be assembled with the longitudinal support ( 10 ). 
     According to the invention, the longitudinal support ( 10 ) comprises means for fixing said accessory ( 40 ) on said support.

The present invention relates to a wiper blade assembly for the windowsof a motor vehicle.

The invention also relates to an accessory for a wiper blade assemblyand a wiper device for the windows of a motor vehicle integrating such awiper blade assembly.

A technology of wiper blade assemblies for the windows of motor vehiclesalso known as “flat blade” currently exists, and an example ofembodiment is described in the international application N°WO2007/000346.

Such “flat blade” technology consists of a structure built around asolid longitudinal part composed of two functionally distinct portions.

A first portion is a semi-rigid and flexible plastic material supportincluding on the one hand, a cavity wherein a pressure application rod,generally metallic and also called “vertebra” is accommodated and on theother hand a clip carrying the elastomer wiper blade.

A second portion of said solid longitudinal part is an accessoryintended to improve the quality of the wiping. A first type of accessoryis, for example, a wind deflector which uses the relative wind of thevehicle to increase the contact force of the wiper blade against theglass surface to be wiped. Another type of accessory may be a device forprojecting an appropriate washer liquid which makes it possible, throughthe combined action with the wiping motion of the wiper blade, toeliminate some solid particles which can get fixed on the windows suchas mud projections or residues of insects crushed against thewindshield.

The above mentioned international application illustrates a wiper bladeassembly related to the “flat blade” technology, the accessory of whichcombines a wind deflector with a liquid projecting device.

At present, the complex longitudinal part integrating the functions of asupport and an accessory is obtained through the co-extrusion of atleast two materials. A first material is a semi-rigid plastic materialintended to carry out the support function proper, wherein at leastanother material, such as an elastomer, is used to carry out at leastthe accessory function: wind deflection and/or liquid projection, or anyother function.

However, this structure known as the “flat blade” has many drawbacks.

First, it should be noted that the solid longitudinal part used both asa support and as an accessory is difficult to manufacture through theco-extrusion of different materials having a complex profile. Inaddition, the rigidity of the “wiper blade assembly” thus obtained isincreased because of the addition to the support proper of materialrequired for performing the desired accessory functions. This drawbackis even more acute when temperature is low.

On the other hand, in order to insert into the co-extruded structure aconnector for the connection to the wiper blade assembly drivingmechanism, the part must be cut into two segments which results in theproblem of the connection thereof to the connector. The problem of thecontinuity of the fluid circulation between both segments in the casewhen longitudinal channels for transporting the washer fluid areintegrated in the structure is also raised.

Then, one object of the invention is to provide a wiper blade assemblyof the “flat blade” type which would have a simpler production than thecurrently implemented co-extrusion, and which would avoid the hereabovementioned difficulties, more particularly as regards the connection ofaccessory segments together and to the central connector.

This aim is reached according to the invention, thanks to a wiper bladeassembly for the windows of a motor vehicle comprising:

-   -   a solid longitudinal support intended to receive a stiffening        rod and a wiper blade; and    -   a wiper accessory (40) carrying a device for distributing and        projecting a washer liquid, said accessory being intended to be        assembled to the longitudinal support (10);

The wiper blade assembly according to the invention is remarkable inthat the longitudinal support comprises means for fixing said accessory(40) on said support.

Thus, it should be understood that the wiper blade assembly according tothe invention is organized around a central part i.e. the longitudinalsupport which is used for receiving not only the stiffening rod or“vertebra” and the wiper blade, but also an accessory, for example awind deflector provided with a device for distributing and projectingfluid. Within the scope of the invention, the accessory is then a partindependent from the support, but which can be assembled and fixedthereto by appropriate means. The invention thus relates to theseparation of the functions performed by the only solid complex partknown from the above-mentioned international application.

The advantages of the invention are numerous.

Contrarily to the known “flat blade” systems, the support and theaccessory may be produced independently from each other, by means of asimple extrusion either of a semi-rigid plastic material for thesupport, or of an elastomer or a plastic material for the accessory.Each part is thus easier to produce.

On the other hand, the assembly of a wiper blade assembly according tothe invention comprising a central connector is extremely simple. Inthis case, the invention provides that said wiper accessory is composedof two segments positioned on the support, on either side of the centralconnector. As shown in greater details in the following, it issufficient to position the connector on the longitudinal support, at therequested place, then to assemble and fix both accessory segments on thesupport, on either side of the connector.

In addition, this allows a better standardization of the parts, forexample through the production of a single support and the adaptation ofa given accessory as a function of the wiper blade assembly.

As the accessory comprises a device for distributing and projectingliquid for example produced in the form of a longitudinal channeltransporting said liquid, also called a spraying ramp, the inventionprovides means for connecting the fluid transport channels of saidaccessory segments. The continuity of the fluid circulation between bothaccessory segments is thus ensured at the level of the connector by saidconnecting means which can be one or several rigid tubes inserted ateach end into the transportation channels of both segments. Inparticular, said connection means are carried by said central connector.

It is also provided that the connection means are directly integrated onor fixed to the central connector.

In addition, the flexibility of the wiper blade assembly according tothe invention can be easily improved, more particularly when it is cold,because said longitudinal support includes transversal notches. Itshould be noted that such notches cannot be obtained with the knownsolid part of the state of the art in which the support is co-extrudedwith the accessory. As for the aesthetic point of view, the notches inthe support are not visible since they are hidden by the accessory oncethe latter is assembled on the support.

Eventually, the construction in two separate parts, the support and theaccessory, of the wiper blade assembly of the invention and the mountingthereof, using their complementary shapes, makes it possible to create acomplete range of solutions around the support as the standard centralelement on which an accessory can be mounted upon request. For example,for front wiper blade assemblies, a wind deflector having a certainshape may be selected as an accessory. For rear window wiper bladeassemblies, the same standard support as that of front wiper bladeassemblies may receive, as an accessory, a wind deflector having anothershape more adapted to the rear windows.

Numerous methods for fixing the wiper accessory on the longitudinalsupport may be considered.

In a very general way, the accessory is fixed to the support, usingtheir complementary shapes.

According to a first embodiment, said fixing means are means forclipping said accessory on said support.

According to a second embodiment, said fixing means are articulatedlongitudinal lugs provided on said accessory, able to be inserted intoouter slides provided on said support.

According to a third embodiment, said fixing means are means forretaining said accessory in slides provided on said support. Among thepossible retaining means, it should be noted that it is possible to usea notch/protrusion cooperation.

According to a fourth embodiment, said fixing means include at least aside hook positioned on said accessory and able to be clamped saidsupport.

According to a fifth embodiment, said fixing means are composed of alongitudinal rib provided on said support and having a retaining profilecapable of cooperating with the retaining profile combined with alongitudinal groove provided in said accessory.

The following description, together with the appended drawings given asnon limitative examples will help understanding the invention and theembodiment thereof.

FIG. 1 a is a cross-sectional view of a wiper blade assembly accordingto the invention.

FIG. 1 b is a cross-sectional view illustrating a mounting of the systemof FIG. 1 a.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of thewiper blade assembly of FIGS. 1 a and 1 b.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of thewiper blade assembly according to the invention.

FIG. 4 a is a partial perspective view of a wiper blade assemblyaccording to the invention.

FIG. 4 b is a perspective view of the longitudinal support of the wiperblade assembly of

FIG. 4 a prior to the mounting of the accessory.

FIG. 4 c is a perspective detailed view of the means for fixing thewiper blade accessory of FIG. 4 a on the longitudinal support of FIG. 4b.

FIG. 4 d is a perspective view illustrating a mounting of the wiperblade assembly of FIG. 4 a after the mounting of an accessory portion.

FIG. 5 a is a cross-sectional view of an alternative wiper bladeassembly of FIG. 4 a.

FIG. 5 b is a perspective view of a possible mounting of a wiper bladeassembly according to FIG. 5 a.

FIGS. 5 c and 5 d are cross-sectional views of alternatives of the wiperblade assembly of FIG. 5 a.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another alternative of the wiperblade assembly according to the invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of another alternative of the wiperblade assembly according to the invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative wiper blade assemblyof FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of another alternative of the wiperblade assembly of FIG. 7.

FIG. 1 a shows a cross-sectional view of a wiper blade assembly for thewindows of motor vehicles comprising a longitudinal support 10 made ofsome extruded semi-rigid plastic material. Such support 10 includes, asper the “flat blade” technology, a cavity 11 intended to accommodate apressure application metallic rod 20 or “vertebra”, having a plane shapeand substantially extending on the whole length of the wiper bladeassembly. The support 10 also includes a longitudinal clip 12 into whichan elastomer wiper blade 30 is introduced.

As shown in FIG. 1 a, an accessory 40 is assembled, and fixed to thelongitudinal support 10 and produced by extrusion, independently fromthe support 10. In the example of FIG. 1 a, the accessory 40 is a winddeflector 41 comprising a device 42 for distributing and projectingfluid composed of two longitudinal channels 42 a, 42 b provided withholes 421 a, 421 b in order to allow the projection of a washer liquidfor example onto the window of a vehicle. The longitudinal channels 42a, 42 b are also called spraying ramps.

The accessory 40 of FIG. 1 a is composed of only one material, here anextruded elastomer. In a general way, the wiper accessory 40 is obtainedby extruding at least one elastomer and at least one plastic material.

FIG. 1 b shows a particular method for assembling and fixing theaccessory 40 onto the longitudinal support 10. As shown in the Figure,the accessory 40 is placed above the support 10, then the flanks of theaccessory carrying the channels 42 a, 42 b are elastically separated, soas to vertically assemble both parts 10 and 40 one above the other. Theflanks are then released, with the accessory 40 being fixed on thesupport 10 through the clipping of elements 43 a, 43 b for fixing theaccessory 40 into combined elements 14 a, 14 b of the support 10.

FIG. 2 shows a wiper blade assembly similar to that of FIGS. 1 b and 1a. In the case of FIG. 2, the assembly is obtained by sliding theaccessory 40 along the support using the slides 15 a, 15 b provided inthe support 10, the fixing of both parts being provided by combinedretaining means 16 a, 16 b and 44 a, 44 b respectively provided on thesupport 10 and the accessory 40.

FIG. 3 is an alternative embodiment of the wiper blade assembly of FIG.1 a which comprises a longitudinal support 10 which an accessory 40 isassembled and fixed on. The accessory 40, as previously mentioned, isobtained by extrusion, independently from the support 10. The accessory40 is a wind deflector 41 comprising a device 42 for distributing andprojecting fluid. In the present case, the device for distributing andprojecting fluid has only one longitudinal channel 42 allowing thetransport along a wiper blade assembly and the projection of a washerliquid for example onto the window of a motor vehicle.

The support 10 has, in the centre thereof in FIG. 3, a longitudinal hook21. The hook 21 is able to be received in a recess 22 having a shapecomplementary to the hook 21 which is mounted on the accessory 40.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the recess 22 is provided in a portion 23 ofthe accessory 40 opposite the deflector 41. This portion 23 is alsocalled the base, since it is the base of the deflector 41 and therigidity thereof is different from that of the whole deflector.Preferably, the base 23 will have a greater rigidity to provide a betterholding of the accessory 40 on the support 10.

Thus, the hook 21/recess 22 cooperation and the presence of the base 23having a greater rigidity allow a secure holding of the accessory 40 onthe support 10 when the accessory 40 is mounted on the support 10.

The base 23 is, for example, produced by co-extrusion on the deflector41 to form the accessory 40.

It should be noted that the base 23 also has a side hook 24 capable ofbeing clamped on said support and allowing the accessory 40 to be fixedon the support 10.

In the example shown, the side hook 24 carries the device 42 fordistributing and projecting liquid.

FIGS. 4 a and 4 d show an alternative embodiment of the invention and aprinciple for mounting the wiper blade assembly.

FIG. 4 a shows a general view of a wiper blade assembly comprising acentral connector 50 enabling the connection with the wiper bladeassembly driving mechanism. As shown in FIG. 4 a, in this case, theaccessory 40 is composed of two segments 40 a, 40 b positioned on thesupport 10 on either side of the central connector 50.

FIG. 4 b shows a longitudinal support 10 provided with a plurality oftransversal grooves 17 in order to increase the flexibility thereof. Thetransversal grooves 17 may be implemented on all the supports havingdifferent profiles shown in this description.

This figure also makes is possible to see the mounting on the segment 40a onto the support 10.

FIG. 4 c is a detailed view showing how each segment 40 a, 40 b of theaccessory 40 may be fixed on the support 10. The fixing meansillustrated therein are composed, on the support 10, of a longitudinalrib 18 having a dovetail-shaped retaining profile and on the accessory40, of a longitudinal groove 45 having a combined retaining profile,having a dovetail shape, too. Thus, as can be seen in FIG. 4 d, eachsegment 40 a, 40 b of the accessory is mounted on the support 10 throughthe sliding of the rib 18 into the groove 45, the fixing being obtainedthrough the cooperation of the combined dovetail-shaped profiles, or ofany other known holding profile. These complementary shapes of the rib18 and the groove 45 give a correct fitting between the accessory 40 andthe support 10.

It should be noted that the presence of the rib 18 does not affect theflexibility obtained through the transversal grooves 17 provided in thesupport 10.

In an exemplary embodiment 4 a to 4 d, the segments 40 a, 40 b in FIG. 4a show at least one longitudinal channel for transporting the fluid. InFIG. 4 c, two longitudinal channels 42 a, 42 b for transporting thefluid can be seen.

Since the accessory is embodied in the form of segments 40 a, 40 b, itis necessary to connect the homolog channels of each segment, in orderto provide the continuity of circulation of the fluid along the wholewashing system. This requirement is met in FIGS. 4 a to 4 d using tubes51 carried by the central connector 50 and positioned on either side ofthe connector, while being aligned with the fluid transport channels.During the mounting operation, it is sufficient to insert the ends ofeach tube 51 into the corresponding channels.

FIGS. 5 a to 5 c are alternative embodiments of the wiper blade assemblyof FIGS. 4 a to 4 d with a longitudinal rib 18 and groove 45.

As can be seen in FIGS. 5 a to 5 c, the accessory carrying the devicefor distributing and transporting the liquid is fixed on the support 10using two longitudinal lugs 47 a, 47 b made of co-extruded plasticmaterial, co-extruded with the deflector 41, which can also be made ofplastic material.

In the alternative embodiment of FIG. 5 a, the longitudinal lugs 47 a,47 b generate a clamping stress against the rib 18 which makes itpossible to improve the mechanical resistance of the accessory 40 on thesupport 10.

FIG. 5 b offers the possibility of mounting the accessory 40 onto thesupport 10 according to the longitudinal insertion motion.

In the alternative embodiment of FIG. 5 c, the longitudinal lugs 47 a,47 b cooperate with the side rims 19′a, 19′b respectively.

In the alternative embodiment of FIG. 5 d, the lugs 47 a, 47 b arerespectively inserted into the external slides 19 a, 19 b provided onthe support 10. Thanks to the elastic structure of the deflector 41, thewhole system is stressed inside the slides 19 a, 19 b.

Thus, in the case of FIGS. 5 c and 5 d, it is not necessary to createthe clamping of the longitudinal lugs against the rib 18.

FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the wiper blade assembly ofFIG. 2. The structure elements of the wiper blade assembly can be seen,i.e. a longitudinal support 10 made of an extruded semi-rigid plasticmaterial including a cavity 11 intended to accommodate a pressureapplication metallic rod 20, also called “a vertebra”, having a planeshape and substantially extending on the whole length of the wiper bladeassembly as well as the longitudinal clip 12 in which an elastomer wiperblade 30 is introduced.

The wiper blade assembly also includes an accessory intended to beassembled and fixed onto the longitudinal support 10.

As previously described, the accessory 40 is obtained by extrusion,independently from the support 10. In the present case, the accessory 40is a wind deflector 41 including a device 42 for distributing andprojecting fluid composed of two longitudinal channels 42 a, 42 bprovided with holes 421 a, 421 b in order to allow the projection of awasher liquid, for example onto the window of a motor vehicle. Thelongitudinal channels 42 a, 42 b are also called spraying ramps. In thepresent case, the profiles described have two channels for transportingliquid but it should be understood that only one channel may also beappropriate for obtaining the desired function.

According to the invention, the support 10 includes means 15 a, 15 bforming slides. In the present case, the means forming slides 15 a, 15 binclude, each, two lugs 25 a, 25 b forming a recess for the lugs 26 a,26 b belonging to the accessory 40,

The lugs 26 a and 26 b extend longitudinally on the support 10 and arepositioned on the side edges thereof.

The spigots 26 a and 26 b are positioned on the accessory 40 to beglidingly mounted between the lugs 25 a and 25 b so as to be heldbetween the latter.

Thus, the fixing of the two parts is provided by means 25 a, 25 b (lugs)and 26 a, 26 b (spigots) forming combined retaining means, respectivelyprovided on the support 10 and the accessory 40.

FIG. 7 is another alternative of the invention wherein the support 10has, on the longitudinal edges thereof, at the level of the longitudinalclip 12 wherein a wiper blade 30 is introduced, two protrusion 27 a, 27b. Such protrusions are made integral with the support 10 and extendlongitudinally on the whole length of the support.

Such protrusions 27 a, 27 b are intended to be mounted by a longitudinalsliding into notches 28 a, 28 b provided on the low portion of theaccessory 40 and extending longitudinally on the whole length on theaccessory 40.

The notches 28 a and 28 b are made of plastic material and obtained byco-extrusion of the deflector which can also be made of plasticmaterial. To provide for a better resistance of the protrusion 27 a, 27b in the notches 28 a, 28 b, the notches will preferably be made in amaterial more rigid than the deflector 41.

Providing the notches in the lower area of the accessory makes itpossible to prevent any interference with the deflector 41. As a matterof fact it is an advantage since it makes it possible to use alreadyexisting deflector shapes.

FIG. 8 is an alternative embodiment of FIG. 7, wherein a support thencarries the notches 28″a, 28″b and the accessory 40 which carries theprotrusions 27′a, 27′b. The positioning of such elements is similar tothat of FIG. 7. As previously mentioned, the protrusions 27′a, 27′bcarried by the accessory 40 are co-extruded with the accessory proper.

FIG. 9 is an alternative embodiment of FIG. 8 wherein the supportcarries the notches 28″a, 28″b, but the latter are positioned along adifferent orientation at the level of the cross-sectional view, withrespect to the notches on the support in FIG. 8. As a matter of fact, inFIG. 9, the notches 28″a and 28″b are oriented vertically with respectto those in FIG. 8.

Similarly, the accessory 40 has protrusions 27″c, 27″b positionedaccording to a different orientation at the level of the cross-sectionalview, with respect to the protrusions of the accessory in FIG. 8. In thepresent case, in FIG. 9, the protrusions are positioned according to avertical orientation.

As previously mentioned, the protrusions 27″a, 27″b are co-extruded withthe deflector 41 forming the accessory 40.

The description of the examples hereabove made it possible to show,using some particular non limitative examples, how it is possible toprovide a wide range of wiper blade assemblies of the “flat blade” type,while associating various materials and in a secure way, the samesupport 10 with an accessory 40 having a device for distributing andprojecting liquid while obtaining the same results as with a wiper bladeassembly for front (a) windows as well as rear (b) windows.

1.-23. (canceled)
 24. A wiper blade assembly comprising: a longitudinalsupport configured to receive a pressure application vertebra and awiper blade; a wiper accessory carrying a device for distributing andprojecting a washer liquid, the wiper accessory configured to beassembled to the longitudinal support, wherein the longitudinal supportcomprises means for fixing the wiper accessory on the longitudinalsupport, wherein the fixing means are arranged on the wiper accessoryand on the longitudinal support and cooperate through a complementaryshape thereof, and wherein the fixing means comprise a longitudinal ribprovided on the longitudinal support having a retaining profileconfigured to cooperate with a combined retaining profile of alongitudinal groove provided in the wiper accessory.
 25. The wiper bladeassembly according to claim 24, wherein the wiper accessory comprises awind deflector.
 26. The wiper blade assembly according to claim 24,wherein the device comprises a spraying longitudinal channel.
 27. Thewiper blade assembly according to claim 24, wherein the longitudinalsupport comprises transversal grooves that increase flexibility.
 28. Thewiper blade assembly according to claim 24, wherein the fixing means arelongitudinal lugs provided on the wiper accessory, configured to beinserted at a level of the longitudinal rib provided on the longitudinalsupport.
 29. The wiper blade assembly according to claim 28, wherein thelongitudinal lugs form clamping lugs against the longitudinal rib. 30.The wiper blade assembly according to claim 28, wherein the longitudinallugs form retaining lugs configured to cooperate with combined holdingmeans provided on the longitudinal support.
 31. The wiper blade assemblyaccording to claim 30, wherein the combined holding means are side rims.32. The wiper blade assembly according to claim 30, wherein the combinedholding means are side slides.
 33. The wiper blade assembly according toclaim 25, wherein the longitudinal support comprises a longitudinal ribthat stiffens the wind deflector.
 34. The wiper blade assembly accordingto claim 24, further comprising a central connector, wherein the wiperaccessory comprises two segments positioned on the longitudinal support,on either side of the central connector.
 35. The wiper blade assemblyaccording to claim 34, further comprising means for connecting fluidtransport channels of the two segments.
 36. The wiper blade assemblyaccording to claim 35, wherein the connecting means is carried by thecentral connector.
 37. A wiper accessory carrying a device fordistributing and projecting a washer liquid, wherein the wiper accessoryis configured to be assembled to a longitudinal support of a wiper bladeassembly, wherein the wiper accessory comprises means for fixing thelongitudinal support on the wiper accessory, wherein the fixing means onthe wiper accessory are arranged to cooperate through a complementaryshape thereof of the longitudinal support, and wherein the fixing meanscomprise a longitudinal rib provided on the longitudinal support havinga retaining profile configured to cooperate with a combined retainingprofile of a longitudinal groove provided in the wiper accessory.
 38. Awiper device comprising: a wiper blade comprising: a longitudinalsupport configured to receive a pressure application vertebra and thewiper blade; a wiper accessory carrying a device for distributing andprojecting a washer liquid, wherein the wiper accessory is configured tobe assembled to the longitudinal support, wherein the longitudinalsupport comprises means for fixing the wiper accessory on thelongitudinal support, wherein the fixing means are arranged on the wiperaccessory and on the longitudinal support and cooperate through acomplementary shape thereof, and wherein the fixing means comprise alongitudinal rib provided on the longitudinal support having a retainingprofile configured to cooperate with a combined retaining profile of alongitudinal groove provided in the wiper accessory.